Flexible cellulosic fiber-based honeycomb material

ABSTRACT

A flexible packaging material including: a core portion having a geometrically patterned structure defining two spaced-apart substantially planar faces and providing air space therebetween, the core portion including cellulosic fiber-based walls having a core grammage; and at least one cellulosic fiber-based liner bonded to a respective one of the planar faces of the core portion and having a liner grammage lower than the core grammage, the material being flexible along a plane defined by the at least one liner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S.provisional patent application 61/288,922 filed on Dec. 22, 2009, thespecification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/518,536, which was a national phase entry of PCT application no.PCT/CA2010/002015 filed on Dec. 22, 2010, designating the United States,the specifications of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible material for packaging,structural, and void space filling applications, for instance, and, moreparticularly, to a flexible cellulosic fiber-based material including athree-dimensional geometrically patterned structure such as a honeycombstructure.

BACKGROUND

Bubble Wrap® and similar products are pliable plastic material commonlyused for packing fragile items and filling void spaces. They includeregularly spaced, protruding air-filled hemispheres (“bubbles”) whichprovide cushioning for packaged items.

Packaging and void space filling materials should be relativelylightweight, flexible to adapt to almost any shapes and sizes, easy touse, and relatively reliable.

However, Bubble Wrap® and similar products are made of plastics, whichare usually not environmentally friendly since most of them are notrecyclable or biodegradable.

Furthermore, the structural properties of Bubble Wrap® and similarproducts are limited.

There is thus a need for new materials which are more environmentallyfriendly that can be used for packaging, structural, and void spacefilling applications, for instance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address the abovementioned issues.

According to an aspect, there is provided a cellulosic fiber-basedpackaging material comprising: a core portion having a geometricallypatterned structure defining two spaced-apart substantially planar facesand providing air space therebetween, the core portion including acellulosic fiber-based material having a core grammage; and at least oneliner bonded to a respective one of the planar faces of the core portionand including a cellulosic fiber-based material having a liner grammagelower than the core grammage, the packaging material being flexiblealong a plane defined by the at least one liner.

According to another aspect, there is provided a flexible paperhoneycomb structure comprising: a core portion having a paper-basedhoneycomb structure defining two spaced-apart substantially planar facesand providing air space therebetween and including paper-based wallshaving a grammage between 60 and 200 grams per square meter; and twopaper-based liners bonded to a respective one of the planar faces of thecore portion and having a grammage below 60 grams per square meter.

According to another aspect, there is provided a flexible cellulosicfiber-based material comprising: a core portion having a geometricallypatterned structure defining two spaced-apart substantially planar facesand providing air space therebetween, the core portion includingcellulosic fiber-based walls having a core grammage; and at least onecellulosic fiber-based liner bonded to a respective one of the planarfaces of the core portion and having a liner grammage lower than thecore grammage, the material being flexible along a plane defined by theat least one liner.

In an embodiment, the geometrically patterned structure comprises aplurality of cells having a diameter and a height, and the ratio of thecell height and the cell diameter is below 1.1. In an embodiment, thecore grammage ranges between 80 and 200 grams per square meter and theliner grammage is below 100 grams per square meter. In an embodiment,the cellulosic fiber grammage of the liner is below 60 grams per squaremeter. In an embodiment, the geometrically patterned structure of thecore portion is in one of an at least partially expanded state and astretched state.

The material can be rollable onto itself in a spiral shape.

According to another aspect, there is provided a packaging materialcomprising the flexible cellulosic fiber-based material described above.

According to still another aspect, there is provided a roll of theflexible cellulosic fiber-based material as described above, wherein theflexible cellulosic fiber-based material is rolled onto itself into aspiral shape.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a method for packing anarticle comprising: applying the flexible cellulosic fiber-basedmaterial described above over the article to at least partially coverthe article; and folding the flexible cellulosic fiber-based materialover at least one non-planar element of the article.

According to still another aspect, there is provided a flexiblecellulosic fiber-based material comprising: a core portion having athree dimensional geometrically patterned structure with cellulosicfiber-based walls having a grammage between 80 and 200 grams per squaremeter, the three dimensional geometrically patterned structure definingtwo spaced-apart substantially planar faces and providing air spacetherebetween; and at least one cellulosic fiber-based liner bonded to arespective one of the planar faces of the core portion and having agrammage below 100 grams per square meter.

According to another aspect, there is provided a method formanufacturing a flexible cellulosic fiber-based material, comprising:providing a core portion having a geometrically patterned structuredefining two spaced-apart substantially planar faces and a plurality ofcells having a diameter and a height and providing air spacetherebetween, the core portion including a cellulosic fiber-basedmaterial having a core grammage and having a cell height and diameterratio below 1.1; and bonding at least one liner to a respective one ofthe planar faces of the core portion, the at least one liner including acellulosic fiber-based material having a liner grammage, the coregrammage and the liner grammage being selected to obtain a lower linergrammage than the core grammage, the packaging material being flexiblealong a plane defined by the at least one liner.

Although the higher weights are normally denoted as paperboard orlinerboard, the term ‘paper’ includes paper of all types, paperboard,linerboard, coated paper, printed paper, tissue paper, air-laid tissuepaper, and the like having a grammage ranging between 10 to 500 gramsper square meter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly sectioned, of a flexible paperhoneycomb material in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the material shown in FIG. 1 rolled intoa spiral-like shape;

FIG. 3 is a perspective and schematic view of the material shown in FIG.1 applied over an upper portion of an object and folded along severalaxes; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the material shown in FIG. 1, partiallytwisted.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like featuresare identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly referring to FIG.1, it will be seen a flexible and protective cellulosic fiber basedmaterial 10 including a three-dimensional geometrically patternedstructure in accordance with an embodiment. More particularly, in theembodiment shown, the three-dimensional geometrical pattern is ahoneycomb structure.

The material 10 includes a core portion 12 and two face members, orliners, 14. The core portion 12 has walls 16 defining thethree-dimensional geometrically patterned structure which provides airspaces therein and strengthens the resulting material 10. In theembodiment shown, the geometrically patterned structure is a honeycombtype structure with hexagonal open-ended core cells. The walls 16 of thecore portion 12 define two opposite substantially planar surfaces 20,spaced-apart from one another.

In the embodiment shown, the honeycomb type material is a grid ofhexagonal cells. As it will be easily understood by one skilled in theart, any other lattice structure and/or geometrically patternedstructure, which provides enhanced strength for supporting andprotecting loads, creating an air space as a result of that structure,can be used.

The walls 16 of the core portion 12 can be made of any cellulosicfiber-based materials such as, without being limitative, wood fibers,agricultural residues, and recycled fibers, or any combination thereof.For instance and without being limitative, the walls 16 of the coreportion 12 can be made of virgin kraft paper or recycled paper (ormedium). The wall material can be unbleached (brown) or bleached and isadapted for packaging applications.

In an embodiment, the wall material has a grammage ranging between 60and 200 grams per square meter. In an alternative embodiment, the wallmaterial has a grammage ranging between about 65 and about 130 grams persquare meter and, in still another embodiment, the wall material has agrammage ranging between about 80 and about 110 grams per square meter.

The core portion 12 may be manufactured by applying spaced apart,parallel glue strips across each of a plurality of sheets of cellulosicfiber-based material. The glue strips on alternate sheets being off-setwith respect to the glue strips on the intermediate sheets,superimposing aligned sheets upon another to form a stack, andthereafter expanding the said edge portion to form the core.

In an embodiment, the cell dimensions range between about 0.6 cm (¼inch) and 3.8 cm (1½ inch), i.e. each cell has a diameter of about 0.6cm up to 3.8 cm. In an alternative embodiment, the cell diameter rangesbetween about 1.6 cm (⅝ inch) and 2.2 cm (⅞ inch). In anotheralternative embodiment, the cell diameter ranges between about 0.95 cm(⅜ inch) and 1.6 cm (⅝ inch) and, in still another alternativeembodiment, the cell diameter ranges between about 0.95 cm (⅜ inch) and2.2 cm (⅞ inch). The diameter of a cell is measured between two opposedcell walls.

In an embodiment, the core height, i.e. the wall height, ranges betweenabout 0.6 cm (¼ inch) and 1.9 cm (¾ inch). In an alternative embodiment,the cell height ranges between about 0.95 cm (⅜ inch) and 1.3 cm (½inch).

In an embodiment, the ratio of the cell height and the cell diameter isbelow about 1.1. In an alternative embodiment, the ratio is kept belowor equal to about 1 for a greater flexibility of the resulting material.

In an embodiment, the honeycomb structure or any other three-dimensionalgeometrically patterned structure can be in a stretched state to improvethe flexibility of the resulting material, i.e. the three-dimensionalgeometrically patterned structure is stretched. In other words, the coreportion can be stretched along an axis in a manner such that the celldiameter is longer along the stretch axis and shorter along an axissubstantially perpendicular to the stretch axis. The cells are thusflattened along the axis that is substantially perpendicular to thestretch axis. If the cells are stretched, the cell diameter is measuredbetween the two most-spaced apart corners, i.e. along the stretch axis.

The walls of the core portion can be prestressed, i.e. they can bedeformed along their length to a predetermined depth. The deformationcan be achieved by compressing the core portion, including or not a facemember, to a predetermined depth.

The face members 14, or liners, are also cellulosic fiber-basedmaterials such as, without being limitative, wood fibers, agriculturalresidues, and recycled fibers, or any combination thereof. For instanceand without being limitative, the liners 14 can be made of tissue paper,towel paper, extendable kraft paper, recycled paper (medium), and kraftpaper. The liners can include additives, coatings, adhesives, or resinsto modify its properties. For instance and without being limitative, theliners can be air-laid papers including cellulosic fibers and resins orantistatic paper-based materials. One skilled in the art will appreciatethat liners including additives, coatings, adhesives, or resins havehigher grammages than liners that are substantially free of additives,coatings, adhesives, and resins. As for the wall material, the liners 14can be unbleached (brown) or bleached and are adapted for packagingstructural, and void space filling applications. The liners aresubstantially flat, relatively thin, and flexible members.

The face members 14 and/or the walls of the core portion 12 can besingle ply or can comprise several superposed paper plies. In anembodiment, at least one of face members 14 is a tissue paper. The facemembers 14 can be embossed, i.e. they can include an embossed pattern.They can further have information, patterns, ornamentations, and thelike printed thereon.

In an embodiment, the liners 14 have a grammage ranging below about 100grams per square meter. The liner grammage includes the cellulosic fibergrammage and the additive, coating, adhesive, or resin grammage. In anembodiment, the liners 14 have a cellulosic fiber grammage below about60 grams per square meter. In an alternative embodiment, the cellulosicfiber grammage ranges between about 10 and 50 grams per square meter. Instill another embodiment, the liners 14 have a cellulosic fiber grammageranging between about 20 and 30 grams per square meter. In a furtherembodiment, the liners 14 have a cellulosic fiber grammage rangingbetween about 30 and 50 grams per square meter. The grammage of theliner(s) 14 is typically lower than the grammage of the walls definingthe core portion.

As mentioned above, when a liner includes an additive, a coating, anadhesive or a resin, the total grammage of the liner, i.e. the grammageof the liner including the cellulosic fiber grammage and the resin,coating, adhesive, or additive grammage, is below about 100 grams persquare meter. In an alternative embodiment, the total grammage of theliner is below about 80 grams per square meter.

In an embodiment, if one of the liners includes an additive, a coating,an adhesive or a resin, the other liner is substantially free of resin,coating, adhesive, or additive such as a cohesive adhesive, a pressuresensitive adhesive, an airlaid coating, or any other coating. In anembodiment, if one of the liners includes an additive, a coating, anadhesive or a resin, the other liner has a total grammage below about 60grams per square meter.

In an embodiment, the total grammage of both liners is below about 160grams per square meter. In an alternative embodiment, the total grammageof both liners is below about 120 grams per square meter.

Each one of the liners 14 has two surfaces 24 a, 24 b. One surface 24 aof each liner 14, the inner surface, is laminated (or bonded) on arespective surface 20 of the core portion 12. The other surface 24 b ofeach face member 14 is the outer surface of the material 10. The liners14 are bonded to the core portion 12 with the three-dimensionalgeometrically patterned structure in an at least partially expandedstate, i.e. with open-ended cells. The liners 14 maintain thethree-dimensional geometrically patterned structure in the at leastpartially expanded state.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the liners 14 maintain thethree-dimensional geometrically patterned structure in an open-endedstate which can be a partially expanded state, a fully expanded state ora stretched state.

It is appreciated that, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), thematerial 10 can include only one liner 14 bonded to one surface 20 ofthe core portion 12. Furthermore, if the material 10 includes two liners14, the properties, for instance, the material and/or the grammage ofboth liners 14 can be different.

The material 10 has an overall thickness, i.e. including the coreportion 12 and the liner(s) 14, ranging between about 0.6 and 2.5 cm(about 0.25 to 1 inch). In an alternative embodiment, the overallthickness ranges between about 0.6 and 1.6 cm (about 0.25 to ⅝ inch).

In an embodiment, the grammage of the material 10 is below about 500grams per square meters. In an alternative embodiment, the grammage ofthe material is below about 400 grams per square meter.

The liners 14 can be continuous or discontinuous, i.e. several linersare juxtaposed and bonded to the surfaces 20 of the core portion 12.Moreover, the liners 14 can include apertures, elongated slots, and thelike defined therein.

An additional layer can be superposed to the liners 14. For instance andwithout being limitative, a soft material can be superposed to the atleast one of the liners 14 to improve the softness of the resultingmaterial 10.

The face members 14 strengthen the honeycomb core portion 12 by beingdisposed perpendicular to the latter, thereby distributing the weightover the three-dimensional geometrically patterned structure such as thehoneycomb structure. Bonding of the face members 14 on the core portion12 can be accomplished by appropriate methods such as by gluing.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the liners 14 can be bondeddirectly or indirectly to the surfaces 20 of the core portion 12. If theliners 14 are mounted indirectly, another material can be interposed inbetween.

The resulting material 10 is flexible along a plane defined by theliners 14, i.e. it can be folded along substantially any axis parallelto the liners 14 or allows folding substantially in all planardirections as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. Thus, the material 10 can adapt andsubstantially conform to the shape of an object being wrapped orprotected or to a void space being filled. In FIG. 3, the material 10 isapplied to the upper portion of an object and, more particularly, afiling cabinet A. The material 10 is folded along several non parallelaxis. The material 10 has protective and cushioning propertiesparticularly when stresses are applied in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the liners 14.

The material 10 can be either manufactured manually or continuously onany appropriate apparatus (not shown). The material 10 can be cutmanually or automatically to the desired size.

The material 10 can be used for packaging and void space fillingapplications to replace bubble wrap or any other flexible products. Thematerial 10 is foldable and bendable in substantially all planardirections, as needed to facilitate conforming of the material 10 to theparticular object being shipped. The conformability of the material 10as a protective packaging and void space filling product, i.e. itsability to wrap around all surfaces of an object, including corner areasof the object, provides cushioning against shock loads imposed at anyangle on the outer shipping container or directly on the material. It isthus adapted for use in packaging, specifically in multi planar, pliablepackaging and void space filling applications.

The cellulosic or paper-based materials for the walls 16 or the liners14 can be impregnated and/or coated with a resin to improve theirresistance to water, grease or fire, their gas and vapor barrierproperties, their non-slip properties, their low-abrasion properties,their low friction properties, and the like. They can also be treatedwith a water-based coating or a resin coating. For instance and withoutbeing limitative, the cellulosic or paper-based materials for the walls16 or the liners 14 can include up to 45% of a non-cellulosic materialsuch as resins, polymers, and the like.

Several adhesives can be used to laminate the face members 14 to thecore portion 12. For example, without being limitative, adhesives suchas water-based adhesive, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyvinyl acetate(PVA), acrylic, stamp glue, dextrin, and polyurethane can be used toassemble components of the composite material together. Hot meltadhesives such as polyolefin and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) can alsobe used. In some embodiments, it might be desirable to use a degradableor a repulpable adhesive. In other embodiments, it might be desirable touse an adhesive that remains on the surfaces 20 of the geometricallypatterned structure of the core portion or an adhesive that bonds veryrapidly.

Pressure-sensitive and/or cohesive adhesives can be applied on an outersurface of the face members or liners 14, i.e. the surface in contactwith the article to be wrapped. The pressure-sensitive adhesives can beactivated by applying pressure. The material 10 can be removably bondedto the article to be wrapped during the wrapping process.

Furthermore, release adhesives or any other appropriate adhesives can beapplied to the liners 14 and, more particularly to their outer surfaces24 b.

Polycoating can also be applied to the liners 14 and, more particularlyto their outer surfaces 24 b to modify the properties of the liners 14.For instance, a polycoating can be applied to increase the abrasionresistance of the liners 14.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the grammage of the linersincluding the resins, the adhesives, the coatings, or any other productsis lower than about 120 grams per square meter. In an alternativeembodiment, the grammage of the liners is below about 80 grams persquare meter.

In an embodiment, the material 10 can be substantially continuous. Itcan be substantially free of continuous or discontinuous cuts extendingthrough the core portion 12 and/or the liners 14. In an alternativeembodiment, the material 10 can include cookie cuts extending solelythrough at least one of the liners 14, slit cuts extending through oneof the liners 14 and at least partially in the core portion 12, or othercuts that increase the flexibility of the structure 10 and facilitateits forming. The cuts, such as slits or grooves, orientate theflexibility of the material along predetermined axes.

The material 10 can be used to wrap irregularly shaped products.

The material 10 can be transported, stored, and sold as a roll whereinthe material 10 is rolled onto itself in a spiral shape.

The material 10 can be folded along any axis without requiring adiscontinuity, which can be continuous or not, extending through one ofthe liners and/or the core portion. Discontinuities include cuts definedin the material 10. The material 10 can be folded simultaneously alongtwo axis that are not parallel to one another.

The material 10 is adequate as a flexible and protective packaging, voidspace filling and protective material. Moreover, it is a cost-efficientpackaging and void space filling material due to its lightweight andrecyclable and degradable nature.

The material 10 can also be used in structural applications such asinner filling for furniture.

Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described andillustrated herein. The embodiments of the invention described above areintended to be exemplary only. A person of ordinary skill in the artwould appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and thepossible combinations and variations of the components. A person ofordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of theembodiments could be provided in any combination with the otherembodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may beembodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit orcentral characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have beenillustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind withoutsignificantly departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope ofthe invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope ofthe appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A flexible packaging material comprising: acore cellulosic fiber-based portion having a honeycomb structure, thecore cellulosic fiber-based portion defining two spaced-apartsubstantially planar faces and providing air space therebetween, thecore cellulosic fiber-based portion including a stack of cellulosicfiber-based sheets bonded together at spaced-apart intervals in astaggered configuration; and at least a first cellulosic fiber-basedliner and a second cellulosic fiber-based liner, the first liner and thesecond liner being bonded to a respective one of the planar faces of thecore portion, the first liner having a first liner grammage and thesecond liner having a second liner grammage different than the firstliner grammage, the material being bendable.
 2. The flexible packagingmaterial as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first liner grammage islower than the second liner grammage.
 3. The flexible packaging materialas claimed in claim 1, wherein the honeycomb structure comprises aplurality of cells having a cell diameter and a cell height, and a ratioof the cell height and the cell diameter is below 1.1.
 4. The flexiblepackaging material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cellulosicfiber-based sheets have a core grammage ranging between 60 and 200 gramsper square meter.
 5. The flexible packaging material as claimed in claim1, wherein the cellulosic fiber-based sheets have a core grammage, atleast one of the first liner grammage and the second liner grammagebeing lower than the core grammage.
 6. The flexible packaging materialas claimed in claim 5, wherein the first liner grammage and the secondliner grammage are lower than the core grammage.
 7. The flexiblepackaging material as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of thefirst liner grammage and the second liner grammage is below 100 gramsper square meter.
 8. The flexible packaging material as claimed in claim1, wherein the material is flexible along a plane defined by at leastone of the first liner and the second liner.
 9. The flexible packagingmaterial as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first linerand the second liner comprises an air-laid paper.
 10. The flexiblepackaging material as claimed in claim 9, wherein the other one of thefirst liner and the second liner comprises a kraft paper.
 11. Theflexible packaging material as claimed in claim 10, wherein the kraftpaper comprises extendable kraft paper.
 12. The flexible packagingmaterial as claimed in claim 1, having an overall thickness rangingbetween 0.6 and 2.5 cm.
 13. The flexible packaging material as claimedin claim 1, wherein the honeycomb structure defines a grid of hexagonalcells.
 14. The flexible packaging material as claimed in claim 1,wherein the honeycomb structure comprises cells having a diameterranging between 0.6 cm and 3.8 cm.
 15. The flexible packaging materialas claimed in claim 1, wherein the cellulosic fiber-based sheets of thecore portion at least one of the first liner and the second linercomprise wood fiber based materials.
 16. The flexible packaging materialas claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is bendable around a cornerarea of an object.
 17. The flexible packaging material as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the material has a material grammage below about 500grams per square meter.
 18. The flexible packaging material as claimedin claim 1, wherein the flexible packaging material is foldable alongseveral non-parallel axes.
 19. The flexible packaging material asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible packaging material isreshapable following folding.
 20. The flexible packaging material asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible packaging material is foldablesimultaneously along at least two non-parallel axes.
 21. A method forpacking an article comprising: applying the flexible packaging materialof claim 1 over the article to at least partially cover the article; andbending the flexible packaging material over at least one non-planarelement of the article.
 22. The method as claimed in claim 21,comprising directly superposing one of the first liner and the secondliner to the article being packed.
 23. An article at least partiallyprotected by the flexible packaging material of claim
 1. 24. The articleas claimed in claim 23, wherein the material is bended over at least onenon-planar element.
 25. The article as claimed in claim 24, wherein thenon-planar element comprises a corner.
 26. A flexible packaging materialcomprising: a core portion having a honeycomb structure and including astack of cellulosic fiber-based sheets bonded together at spaced-apartintervals in a staggered configuration, the core portion defining twospaced-apart substantially planar faces and providing air spacetherebetween; a first liner bonded to a first one of the planar faces ofthe core portion and comprising an air-laid fiber material having afirst liner grammage; and a second liner bonded to a second one of theplanar faces of the core portion and comprising a kraft paper having asecond liner grammage different than the first liner grammage; theflexible packaging material being bendable.
 27. The flexible packagingmaterial as claimed in claim 26, wherein the kraft paper comprisesextendable kraft paper.
 28. The flexible packaging material as claimedin claim 26, wherein the air-laid fiber material comprises air-laidpaper.
 29. The flexible packaging material as claimed in claim 26,wherein the honeycomb structure comprises a plurality of cells having acell diameter and a cell height, and a ratio of the cell height and thecell diameter is below 1.1.
 30. The flexible packaging material asclaimed in claim 26, wherein the cellulosic fiber-based sheets have acore grammage between 60 and 200 grams per square meter.
 31. Theflexible packaging material as claimed in claim 26, wherein thecellulosic fiber-based sheets have a core grammage and the first linergrammage and the second liner grammage are lower than the core grammage.32. The flexible packaging material as claimed in claim 26, having anoverall thickness ranging between 0.6 and 2.5 cm.
 33. The flexiblepackaging material as claimed in claim 26, wherein the honeycombstructure defines a grid of hexagonal cells.
 34. The flexible packagingmaterial as claimed in claim 26, wherein the honeycomb structurecomprises cells having a diameter ranging between 0.6 cm and 3.8 cm. 35.The flexible packaging material as claimed in claim 26, wherein thesheets of the core portion and the first liner and the second linercomprise wood fiber based materials.
 36. The flexible packaging materialas claimed in claim 26, wherein the material is flexible along a planedefined by at least one of the first liner and the second liner.
 37. Theflexible packaging material as claimed in claim 26, wherein the materialis bendable around a corner area of an object.